i'm about to build a PC from the ground up with windows 7 home premium 64 bit. i REALLY want to enjoy computer recording again, and I've just outgrown my current setup.

here are my goals with the machine i want to build:

1. i want to be able to run up to around 30 tracks in Ableton Live 8 (mixed midi and audio tracks) with at least Izotope Ozone 4 on every one if i feel like it.

2. to be able to have a complete project (of the said MAYBE 30 tracks if i want), and be able to record vocals over it with live monitoring of effects on it, and no latency issues. the recording device for this application would be a Lexicon I-Onix u22, USB2.0.

3. record up to 14 mono audio tracks live with live, low latency monitoring of the stereo return, possibly with VSTs on each as well. for this, i would be using a Phonic Helix 18FW MKII, firewire.

needless to say these are impossible with my current XP/4G/Core2Duo laptop setup. and these "goals" may seem a little stupid, but i'm over-shooting. i just REALLY don't want to be limited if i'm recording my band or something.

I already sort of have the parts picked, but I really wanted to know ANYTHING anyone can tell me to help me accomplish this. new interface/mixer? that's fine, i'll work on it. a specific processor or motherboard? i'll try. i would just love for someone to help me out.

You might look at the more Server oriented motherboards. They have extremely fast memory interfaces. Before you buy, make sure you find some benchmark numbers that do large amounts of small blocks of data movement, and maybe IRQ latency tests, too.

Based on Bob's test, he sees only 4 cores being maxed out on a 2.26 Ghz Mac Pro- which i assume based on apple specs is a Core i7 based machine. It wont be hard to pass the power of four cores on that machine considering that 2.26 Ghz core i7s aren't even sold anymore... the slowest current core i7 is the Core i7-920 processor at 2.66 Ghz, running about $280 for the CPU. The next step up is the Core i7-930 at 2.8 Ghz ($295), and the next after that is 3.06 Ghz at almost double the cost. (Note, you need an i7 that uses the LGA 1366 socket with thee-channel DDR3, not the LGA 1156 version.)

Though you *could* overclock the Core i7-920 i would highly caution against doing that on any system considered a workstation. Put in 6 GB of memory and use a 64-bit operating system, Ableton will catch on eventually.

I've been working with a Xeon 5550 machine from HP as a review unit and let me tell you, they fly... trying to coem up with a way to run that box into the ground has been... taxing._________________E-Mu e6400 Ultra -Ensoniq VFX & ESQm
Korg M3, EMX-1 , MS2000BR
Roland MKS-50, Juno 106 Alesis Micron
Waldorf Blofeld

At this end of the performance spectrum, AMD only barely competes, especially since some of the PCI sound and DSP cards don't get along well with chipsets for AMD processors.

It still come s out a little cheaper to build, but buying prebuilt comes with a warranty- and to get a dual-socket PC, its going to be a 'workstation' and thus come with nice things like 24/7 telephone tech support and on-site repairs..._________________E-Mu e6400 Ultra -Ensoniq VFX & ESQm
Korg M3, EMX-1 , MS2000BR
Roland MKS-50, Juno 106 Alesis Micron
Waldorf Blofeld

one thing that did catch my attention was what Ashe37 said. would you mind explaining a little why i would need a 1366 socket i7? it just so happens that the one i have picked out is 1156, and the motherboard is also, this sort of messes up my entire build...

thank you guys for all of the replies. i'm still trying to process a lot of it...

There is a performance hit, but not as much. The newer Lynnfield/1156 chips have an improved cache system. Unless you are looking at the 1366 server chips, the 870 outperforms almost every quad-core 1366 device out there.

The 1156 also has the graphics PCI-e built on-chip, rather than going through a northbridge to get to the graphics chip. That's less latency on those PCI-e slots, as well as the rest of the system. I wonder if an audio or firewire card could go there?

There is a performance hit, but not as much. The newer Lynnfield/1156 chips have an improved cache system. Unless you are looking at the 1366 server chips, the 870 outperforms almost every quad-core 1366 device out there.

The 1156 also has the graphics PCI-e built on-chip, rather than going through a northbridge to get to the graphics chip. That's less latency on those PCI-e slots, as well as the rest of the system. I wonder if an audio or firewire card could go there?

The 1156 also has limited PCI-E bandwidth off-chip. All of the PCI-E is handled on the cpu, not on the northbridge. Many boards using it expand that by using a PCI-E to PCI-E bridge, which gives you more slots but the same amount of bandwidth. Really only a concern if you're going to run two graphics cards..._________________E-Mu e6400 Ultra -Ensoniq VFX & ESQm
Korg M3, EMX-1 , MS2000BR
Roland MKS-50, Juno 106 Alesis Micron
Waldorf Blofeld

thank you guys for your help. it's sort of difficult though, when there are so many options. i figured it may be easier this way: i'll post the build i have in mind, then you can make suggestions based on it instead.

also, i'm planning on doubling the memory that's on the list. (i can't add more than 1 of one thing on the wish list...)

please let me know of any suggestions you have or if you notice anything that may not work. thank you guys again, and i really appreciate the help. i'm going at this totally alone with very limited knowledge, except for you.

also, i'm planning on doubling the memory that's on the list. (i can't add more than 1 of one thing on the wish list...)

when i order, the 4G item in the cart will have quantity 2. so it will be 2Gx4 when said and done. 8G.

and unfortunately, i will need a wireless card. i will be disabling the card all the time while working though, so it shouldn't affect things too much. and i know a lot of people like to separate the music/home computer, but i won't have that luxury. it will need to get on the internet as well.

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